Blueberry plant named &#39;Drisblueseven&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant named ‘DrisBlueSeven’ particularly distinguished by having a very low chilling requirement, high productivity and very firm, large, sweet berries with intense blue color, is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Vaccinium corymbosum L.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘DrisBlueSeven’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The invention relates to a new and distinct blueberry variety designated ‘DrisBlueSeven’ and botanically known as Vaccinium corymbosum L. This new blueberry variety was discovered in Santa Cruz, Calif. in June 2001 and originated from a cross between the proprietary female parent blueberry plant ‘MS 122’ (unpatented) and the male parent blueberry plant ‘FL 92-166 N’ (unpatented). The original seedling of the new variety was first asexually propagated at a nursery in Monterey, Calif. ‘DrisBlueSeven’ was subsequently asexually propagated and underwent further testing at a nursery in Santa Cruz, Calif. for twelve years. The present invention has been found to be stable and reproduce true to type through successive asexual propagations via softwood cuttings.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have not been applied for. ‘DrisBlueSeven’ has not been made publicly available or sold more than one year prior to the filing date of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Santa Cruz, Calif.

1. A very low chilling requirement;

2. High productivity; and

3. Very firm, large, sweet berries with intense blue color.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new blueberry plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show fruit of the plant as well as the flowers and leaves. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of plants that are 11 years old.

FIG. 1 shows a close-up of the mature flowers.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the leaves.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the whole fruit and a cross-section of the fruit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘DrisBlueSeven.’ The data which define these characteristics is based on observations taken in Santa Cruz, Calif. from 2001-2012. This description is in accordance with UPOV terminology. Color designations, color descriptions, and other phenotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values and descriptions depending upon variation in environmental, seasonal, climatic and cultural conditions. ‘DrisBlueSeven’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The botanical description of ‘DrisBlueSeven’ was taken from 11 year-old plants. Color references are primarily to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2007 edition). Descriptive terminology follows the Plant Identification Terminology, An Illustrated Glossary, 2^(nd) edition by James G. Harris and Melinda Woolf Harris, unless where otherwise defined.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Ericaceae.         -   Botanical.—Vaccinium corymbosum L.         -   Common name.—Blueberry.         -   Variety name.—‘DrisBlueSeven’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—The proprietary blueberry plant ‘MS 122’             (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—The blueberry plant ‘FL 92-166 N’ (unpatented). -   Plant:     -   -   Size.—Large to very large.         -   Height.—163.5 cm.         -   Width.—123.5 cm.         -   Length/width ratio.—1.3.         -   Plant vigor.—Medium.         -   Growth habit.—Semi-erect.         -   Productivity.—High to very high.         -   Cold hardiness.—Medium.         -   Chilling requirement.—Very low; 150-250 chilling hours.         -   Propagation.—Soft wood cuttings.         -   Time of vegetative bud burst.—Very early.         -   Fruiting type.—Only on one-year-old shoots.         -   Cane renewal.—Weak to medium.         -   Internode length (Upper half on one-year old shoot).—30.05             mm.         -   One-year old canes (Young canes).—Length: 106.68 cm Diameter             at the base: 7.00 mm Diameter at the tip: 3.83 mm Texture:             Smooth Color (One-year old shoot, branch and canes): RHS             143C (Medium green).         -   Five-year old canes (Mature canes).—Length: 141.34 cm             Diameter at the base: 21.54 mm Diameter at the tip: 5.32 mm             Texture: Smooth Color: RHS 145A (Light yellow-green). -   Leaves:     -   -   Length.—Long; 6.30 cm.         -   Width.—Medium; 3.12 cm.         -   Length/width ratio.—2.0; longer than broad.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Cuspidate.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Glossiness.—Medium to glossy.         -   Pubescence.—Glabrous (Absent).         -   Sheath.—Absent.         -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Venation.—Reticulate.         -   Color.—Upper surface: Dark; RHS 139A (Dark green) Lower             surface: Medium; RHS 138B (Medium green).         -   Appearance of leaf bud.—Early.         -   Internode length (One-year old shoot, upper half).—Long;             24.63 mm. -   Petiole:     -   -   Length.—4.5 mm.         -   Diameter.—1.75 mm.         -   Color.—RHS 145B (Light yellow-green). -   Flowers:     -   -   Length (Excluding peduncle).—Medium; 8.52 mm.         -   Diameter.—7.70 mm.         -   Length/width ratio.—1.1.         -   Color.—RHS 157D (Light green-white).         -   Flower bud.—Length: 6.2 mm Width: 2 8mm Number of flowers             per bud: 7 Color on immature buds: RHS 175C (Medium             greyed-orange) Color on mature buds: RHS 142A (Light green).         -   Petal width.—4.50 mm.         -   Fragrance.—Very faint or absent.         -   Time of beginning flowering on one-year shoot.—Very early.         -   Time of flowering (50% full bloom).—Very early; March 6.         -   Pedicel.—Length: 7.48 mm Diameter: 0.96 mm Color: RHS 142B             (Medium green).         -   Corolla.—Aperture diameter: 3.48 mm Shape: Urceolate Size of             corolla tube: Medium Corolla tube color: Weak; RHS 157D             (Green-white) Ridges on tube: Present.         -   Peduncle length.—18.26 mm. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Style length (including stigma).—Medium; 8.00 mm.         -   Style color.—RHS 144D (Light yellow-green).         -   Ovary color.—RHS 142B (Medium green).         -   Pollen amount.—Medium to high.         -   Pollen color.—RHS 4D (Light yellow).         -   Anther color.—RHS 164A (Medium greyed-orange). -   Fruit:     -   -   Size.—Large.         -   Length.—13.07 mm.         -   Width.—18.69 mm.         -   Length/width ratio.—0.7.         -   Fruit pedicel diameter.—1.32 mm.         -   Weight.—3.0 g.         -   Number of berries per cluster.—7.         -   Cluster density.—Medium.         -   Shape in longitudinal sections.—Oblate.         -   Intensity of green color (Immature fruit with             bloom).—Medium; RHS 142B (Medium green).         -   Color of skin (Immature fruit without bloom).—RHS 59A (Dark             red-purple).         -   Color of skin (Mature fruit without bloom).—RHS 103A (Dark             blue).         -   Color of skin (Mature fruit with bloom).—RHS 98D (Light             blue).         -   Intensity of bloom (Mature fruit).—Very strong.         -   Attitude of sepals.—Incurving and erect.         -   Calyx.—Diameter of basin: Large; 6.75 mm Depth of basin:             Shallow; 1.57 mm Diameter/depth ratio: 4.3.         -   Flesh color.—RHS 145C (Yellow-green).         -   Firmness.—Very firm.         -   Sweetness.—Medium.         -   Acidity.—Medium.         -   Time of beginning of fruit ripening (One-year old             shoots).—Very early.         -   Harvest season.—Very early.         -   Harvest interval.—May 16-September 17. -   Seeds:     -   -   Length.—1.62 mm.         -   Width.—1.06 mm.         -   Length/width ratio.—1.5.         -   Abundance.—Low to medium.         -   Color.—RHS 165B (Medium greyed-orange). -   Resistance to pests and diseases: Data not available

COMPARISON WITH COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

‘DrisBlueSeven’ differs from the commercial variety ‘DrisBlueOne’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,449) in that ‘DrisBlueSeven’ has a semi-erect growth habit, a very early time of vegetative bud burst, and leaves with a cuspidate apex and cuneate base, whereas ‘DrisBlueOne’ has a bushy growth habit, a medium time of bud break, and leaves with a broadly acute apex and broadly acute to rounded base. Additionally, ‘DrisBlueSeven’ has a very low chilling requirement, whereas ‘DrisBlueOne’ has a medium chilling requirement.

‘DrisBlueSeven’ differs from the commercial variety ‘DrisBlueTwo’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,488), in that ‘DrisBlueSeven’ has leaves with an entire margin, oblate shaped berries, and a medium to high amount of pollen, whereas ‘DrisBlueTwo’ has leaves with serrulate margin, nearly spherical shaped berries and a sparse amount of pollen. Additionally, ‘DrisBlueSeven’ has a very low chilling requirement, whereas ‘DrisBlueTwo’ has a medium chilling requirement. 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant named ‘DrisBlueSeven’ as shown and described herein. 